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jonnylingoDespite the accolades, recognition and titles that have come his way, Heaps is devoid of any sense of entitlement, his former coaches say.
"He's very humble. He's the kind of kid that's going to deflect a lot of the attention that comes to the quarterback position to the rest of the team," says Steve Gervais, who coached Heaps when he was a sophomore at Skyline. "He understands that you're only as good as the guys who surround you. In his mind, it's not about Jake Heaps. It's about the rest of the team."
Barton says Heaps' team-first attitude will serve him well in his first season in BYU's program.
"Jake is respectful to the older guys. They'll see that he's all business and works hard," Barton says. "The coaches will be impressed with his maturity either way. Whatever the coaches decide â whether he redshirts or plays â he'll accept it
Heaps' former coaches say he possesses amazing recall â the ability to memorize plays and execute them. At the Elite 11 camp, he was honored for having the highest football IQ.
While Heaps possesses natural talent to be a quarterback, he's no prima donna, Taylor says. "His fundamentals are something he's worked tremendously hard at since he was a little kid. He'll try to outwork the next guy."
Words from coaches who actually know and have been around him, not washed up past players with no connections to anybody or other posters with only second hand knowledge of him "missing" voluntary practices. Jake is not a premadonna. I don't buy any of the crap that suggests otherwise. He is a competitor and there to get the starting position. I for one hope he starts this year. I have changed my position.